Chapter 264 She Confessed and Was Rejected

Five minutes later, everyone gathered at the entrance as planned.

They each carried flashlights, and Knox thoughtfully brought drinks. Seraphina had never experienced a walk in the forest at night before.

She was as excited as a bird just out of its cage, her pink athletic outfit making her look even more energetic, with her ponytail bouncing with each step.

Everyone let Seraphina walk in front of Zachary without saying a word.

Knox and Ezra led the way, while Dane and Isaac chatted at the back.

The atmosphere was relaxed and cheerful.

In the mountains, fireflies danced in the night sky, their faint glow like flowing stars.

The bamboo shadows swayed gently in the breeze, making a rustling sound.

It all felt like being in a fairy tale.

Along the way, Seraphina accidentally kicked a rock and stumbled forward.

Zachary quickly reached out and grabbed her wrist, steadying her.

Dane and Isaac saw this and exchanged a knowing smile, understanding that this was another chance for Zachary to get closer to Seraphina.

The path wound its way up to the mountain top.

The strange rocks along the way, with their various shapes, were bathed in moonlight, giving them a mysterious veil.

Finally, they reached the top of the mountain.

A large, smooth rock lay flat at the summit. It was autumn, and the clear, cloudless night sky revealed a stunning view of the Milky Way.

Zachary sat on a rock first, and Seraphina followed. When his fingers brushed against iler wiric; Jonth Entar surger un firexpmachéermeation

Seraphina hugged her knees and listened quietly, reflecting on her life. She had grown up in comfort but was forced into various tutoring classes, excelling in piano and dance. She went abroad to study finance as her mother Niamh wished, but switched to philosophy after developing anxiety. She had almost ruined herself by getting involved with a bad man and was now in this situation because of a mistake that led to her being targeted. She sighed deeply, feeling guilty for implicating Niamh.

During this time, Dane, Knox, and the others made excuses about having to work early the next day and left, leaving Zachary behind.

Seraphina tried to make them stay, but they quickly disappeared into the bamboo forest. The mountaintop was silent, and she could hear their breathing clearly. Realizing that Knox and the others had intentionally created an opportunity for her and Zachary to be alone, she decided to let go of her worries and enjoy the moment.

She lay down to look at the stars, feeling that gazing at the sky could help her forget her troubles. Glancing at Zachary's silhouette, she wondered if he had any feelings for her.

Zachary suggested they head back, but Seraphina pouted in surprise, wanting to stay longer.

"I can't sleep. I want to stay a bit more."

Her innocent expression made Zachary's heart skip a beat. Worried she might catch a cold, he said, "Let's go back. It's cold up here."

Reluctantly, Seraphina stood up, crossing her arms and looking down at Zachary from above.

The moonlight cast a glow on him, making him look like a lone wolf standing on the cliff. His handsome profile was deep and defined in the moonlight, and his slightly pursed lips seemed to have a special allure. Her heart raced, and her face flushed.

Seraphina spread her arms, asking Zachary to carry her down.

"I can't walk anymore!" Her voice had a playful, girlish tone.

Zachary didn't respond immediately, making her regret her words. But then he stepped forward and picked her up. Caught off guard, Seraphina wrapped her arms around his neck, her lips brushing against his neck.

The warm touch made Zachary tense up, his breath catching.

Lost in the world of this story? Make sure you're on Ñe5s.com to catch every twist and turn. The next chapter awaits, exclusively on our site. Dive in now!

When he set her down, the uneven ground made Seraphina stumble backward. Zachary's long arm reached out to support her back, preventing her from falling. Their faces were so close they could feel each other's breath, creating an intense, intimate atmosphere. Seraphina's breathing quickened, and she hesitated, wondering if she should kiss him again, her heart pounding wildly.

A cold wind blew, messing up her hair and making her shiver. Not wanting to miss the chance, she boldly kissed Zachary on the cheek.

Then, like a startled rabbit, she tried to run away but twisted her ankle on a rock. She cried out and fell to the ground. Zachary hurried over to check on her, while Seraphina felt utterly embarrassed, wishing she could disappear. Zachary scolded her gently, "Are you hurt?"

Blushing deeply, Seraphina whispered, "I ran because I was afraid you'd be mad..." Zachary used his flashlight to check her foot. Luckily, her sturdy sneakers had protected her, and she wasn't hurt. He sighed in relief.

Noticing her untied shoelace, he set the flashlight aside and knelt to tie it for her, his movements gentle and practiced.

Watching him, Seraphina couldn't help but wonder. He clearly cared about her, but there was always a sense of distance. Did he know his actions were misleading, or was he just trying to protect her?

Lost in thought, she stared at him.

Just then, Zachary's phone buzzed, lighting up the screen.

He took it out and frowned at the message from Della, filled with longing and affection.

Curious, Seraphina tried to peek, but Zachary quickly put the phone away, his actions a

bit hurried, making her feel uneasy. She guessed it was a message from another

woman.

Determined not to let it go, Seraphina caught up to him and grabbed his arm, demanding, "Who was that message from?"

Zachary ignored her and kept walking.

Frustrated, Seraphina shone her flashlight in his eyes, walking slowly in front of him and occasionally stopping to look around.

Suddenly, a shadow darted out of the woods, scaring Seraphina into screaming and instinctively hugging Zachary, her voice trembling, "There's a ghost!"

Lost in the world of this story? Make sure you're on Ñe5s.com to catch every twist

and turn. The next chapter awaits, exclusively on our site. Dive in now! Zachary quickly shone his flashlight, revealing it was just a wild monkey. Seraphina let go, her heart still racing.

Seeing her genuine fear, Zachary frowned slightly and offered, "I'll carry you down the mountain."

Seraphina was more than happy to agree, climbing onto his back and wrapping her arms around his neck, her cheek resting against his back, feeling incredibly safe. She held the flashlight to light the way for him.

The path down was rough, but Zachary walked steadily. On his back, Seraphina felt a greedy desire, hoping he would only carry her in the future. Her face grew warm. Finally calming down a bit, Seraphina brought up the earlier topic, looking at Zachary seriously, "If there were other girls, would you treat them the same way?" Zachary found the question pointless and turned his head away, not answering. Seraphina persisted, "Not answering means I'm right, doesn't it?"

She wanted to use this chance to gauge his feelings, her eyes full of hope.

As the night deepened, Seraphina leaned close to Zachary's ear, her voice soft and trembling, "Zachary, do you... do you like me?"

After a long wait, Zachary didn't respond, the oppressive silence suffocating. Near the foot of the mountain, Seraphina felt heartbroken and, driven by pride, asked to walk on her own.

Zachary slowly set her down, his gaze locking onto hers, and coldly said, "Don't waste your time on me. It's not going to happen. You're just someone I need to protect, nothing more."

Seraphina's mind went blank, biting her lip to hold back her tears, her eyes welling up.

At that moment, the wild monkey jumped out again, chattering in the nearby trees. Zachary instinctively pulled Seraphina into his arms.